Pressure operated apparatus for running and setting packing assemblies in wellheads

ABSTRACT

Running apparatus is releasably connected to a packing assembly, the combination being lowered on a tubular running string until the packing assembly is disposed between a hanger body and a surrounding wellhead underlying a body of water. The apparatus is operated by pressure fluid supplied through the running string and reaction is taken on the closed blowout preventer rams to effect setting of the packing in the annular space between the hanger body and wellhead. The apparatus is rotated relative to the packing to lock the packing in place, the apparatus then being released from the packing assembly for retrieval to the drilling rig at the water surface.

United States Patent Jansen, Jr.

Dec. 9, 1975 PRESSURE OPERATED APPARATUS FOR RUNNING AND SETTING PACKING ASSEMBLIES IN WELLHEADS Inventor: Martin B. Jansen, Jr., Ventura,

Calif.

Assigneez Vetco Offshore Industries, Inc.,

Ventura, Calif.

Filed: Aug. 7, 1974 Appl. No.: 495,269

US. Cl. 166/182; 285/18; 285/142 Int. Cl. E21B 23/00 Field of Search 166/182, 120, 121, 87,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1974 Piazza 166/87 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorney, Agent, or FirmBemard Kriegel 571 ABSTRACT Running apparatus is releasably connected to a packing assembly, the combination being lowered on a tubular running string until the packing assembly is disposed between a hanger body and a surrounding wellhead underlying a body of water. The apparatus is operated by pressure fluid supplied through the running string and reaction is taken on the closed blowout preventer rams to effect setting of the packing in the annular space between the hanger body and wellhead. The apparatus is rotated relative to the packing to lock the packing in place, the apparatus then being released from the packing assembly for retrieval to the drilling rig at the water surface.

23 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 1 of 4 3,924,679

1610.1. J gs-.3.

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,924,679

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 0f 4 t 5 l a- .4b- 7 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet4 of4 3,924,679

PRESSURE OPERATED APPARATUS FOR RUNNING AND SETTING PACKING ASSEMBLIES IN WELLHEADS a companion seat in a surrounding wellhead. The casing string is cemented in place and a suitable packing or seal assembly actuated to packoff the annular region between the hanger body and wellhead. Apparatus for performing the above method is illustrated in a number of United States patents, including applicants U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,468,558, 3,468,559, 3,489,436 and 3,492,026.

In general, the packing is supported upon a running and setting tool operable so that the weight of the running pipe string or a downwardly extended weight string beneath the running and setting tool initially effects longitudinal motion of the packing and deforms the packing into sealing engagement in the annular space between the hanger body and the wellhead housing. Thereafter, fluid pressure is applied to the packing via the kill or choke line of the blowout preventer above the wellhead housing to test the efficacy of the seal, and more tightly sets the packing.

The initial packoff weight is generally provided by heavy drill collars which are bulky and difficult to handle as compared with lighter drill pipe, but the drill pipe, in many instances, may not have adequate weight. In other cases, the initial 'packoff may be effected by rotating the pipe string to drive the packing support rotatively on a threaded connection with the casing hanger body.

In accordance with the present invention, fluid pressure is utilized to initially set the packing in place between the wellhead housing and the casing hanger body by longitudinal motion of the packing assembly and support.

More particularly, in the specific apparatus here involved, fluid pressure is supplied via the running pipe string to the running and setting tool which has piston and cylinder means for shifting the packing into the annular space and applying a force axially thereto to deform the packing element. The reaction is taken against the rams of the blowout preventer which are closed against the running tool. Thereafter, fluid pressure supplied to the wellhead housing via the kill line or choke line of the usual blowout preventer, acts on the packing to more tightly seal the annular space.

With the packing firmly set in place, the running tool is operable to shift a locking sleeve into locking engagement with the packing to hold it in place and then the running tool is retrieved to the drilling rig. In accomplishing this, the running too] is rotatable relative to the packing to drive a locking sleeve rotatively, the locking sleeve being threaded downwardly on a thread on the casing hanger body.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of the form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. They will now be described in detail for the purpose of illustrating the general principals of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed descriptions are not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an underwater well drilling vessel and associated underwater apparatus located at the floor of a body of water;

FIGS. 2a and 2b, together, constitute a longitudinal sectional view showing the apparatus of the invention landed in the subsurface wellhead housing, FIG. 212 being a downward continuation of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of the apparatus embraced by the circle 3 of FIG. 2b;

FIGS. 4a and 4b, together, constitute a longitudinal sectional view generally corresponding with FIGS. 2a

and 2b, but showing the apparatus actuated to initially set the packing in place, FIG. 4b being a downward continuation of FIG. 4a; and

FIGS. 5a and 5b, together, constitute a further longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, but showing the packing locked in place.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustrationof a well bore A drilled below a body of water B from a drilling vessel C floating at the surface of the water, a marine riser pipe D extending from the drilling vessel downwardly to a suitable connector E attached to a blowout preventer stack F, which is connected through a suitable connector G to a wellhead housing H disposed within a base J mounted on the floor K of the body of water. The upper end of the wellhead housing H, as seen in FIG. 2b, is secured to the connector member 10 by coupling dogs 1 1 received within circumferential recesses 12 in the well head housing. The coupling mechanism or connector is of any suitable type, such as the connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,217. A suitable seal or gasket ring 13 prevents leakage between the upper end of the wellhead housing H and the connector member 10 thereabove. The housing 14 of the blowout preventer F is connected to the subsea assembly by a collar 15, a suitable seal 16 being provided. Such blowout preventers include a number of sealing rams 17 adapted to be actuated to and from the blowout preventer housing into and from sealing engagement with a tubular member extending through the blowout preventer, as is well known.

As illustrated in the drawings, a casing hanger body 18 has neen lowered on a suitable running tool (not shown) into the wellhead housing H, this body having a landing surface 19 adapted to rest upon a companion seat 20 in a wellhead housing H, in order that the hanger body can support a string of well casing M threadedly secured thereto and extending downwardly into the well bore. A split lock ring 21 is disposed in a peripheral groove 22 in the housing H and is adapted to contract inwardly over a portion of the body 18 to prevent upward movement of the casing string M and the hanger body 18 with respectto the wellhead housing.

Circumferentially spaced longitudinal flow passages or grooves 23 are provided in the lower portion of the hanger body 18 to permit circulating fluid and cement slurry to flow upwardly through the interior of the landing shoulder 20 and into the annulus 24 between the hanger body and wellhead housing H. The lower portion of this annulus is defined between an external peripheral surface 25 on the hanger body above the flow passages 23 and an opposed internal cylindrical sealing surface 26 in the wellhead housing. A suitable packing 3 assembly P is shown in FIGS. 2b and 3 as having been run into the wellhead housing H on a running andsetting tool T and disposed in the upper portion of the annulus 24.

It is to be noted that the casing hanger body 18 has an internal left-hand thread 27 and an internal groove 28, either of which can be operatively associated with a running tool (not shown) for lowering the hanger body and casing M in the well bore and wellhead housing. Moreover, a cylindrical internal sealing surface 29 is provided inthe hanger body below its threads 27 for a purpose to be described hereinbelow. It should further be noted that the upper external portion of the hanger body is provided with an external right-hand thread 30 which coacts with the packing assembly P in effecting the locking of the packing P in sealing relation against the opposed cylindrical surfaces 25, 26 on the hanger body 18 and wellhead H.

After the well casing M and hanger body 14 attached thereto have been lowered into their appropriate position in the well bore and wellhead, and the circulating and cementing operations have been completed, the annular region between the external and internal sealing surfaces 25 and 26 on the casing hanger body and wellhead are to be engaged by the packing assembly P, which is releasably connected to the running and actuating tool T that includes a body structure 31, the upper body member 32 of which is threadedly secured by a sub 33 to the lower end of a tubular running string by means of which the running and actuating tool and packing assembly combination are lowered toward the previously set hanger body 18 from the drilling vessel.

The body 31 is an elongated tubular body to which the upper tubular body section 32 is connected by a sealing joint 34, the upper extremity of the body section 32 having a seal 35 engaged within the lower end of the connector sub 33, so that operating fluid can be supplied from the drilling vessel to operate the tool T in the manner to be described below.

At the lower end of the body 31 is an enlarged portion 36 having a number of radially projecting pins 37 adapted to support the packing means P. These pins 37 project into a corresponding number of J slots 38 opening upwardly at 39 in a locking sleeve or nut 40 having an internal thread 41 complemental to the external thread 30 on the casing hanger body. At the lower end of the sleeve or nut 40 is a skirt 42 on which the packing unit of the packing means P is supported. The packing unit comprises an upper support ring 43 connected to the nut skirt 42 by a number of shear pins 44. Depending from the support ring 43 and connected therewith by a dovetailed connection 45 is an elastomeric, resiliently deformable packing sleeve 46 having a lower abutment ring 47 connected thereto by a dovetailed connection 48, whereby, upon actuation of the tool T,

as will be later described, the packing sleeve 46 is deformed into sealing engagement with the hanger wall 25 and the housing wall 26 when the abutment ring seats on an upwardly facing shoulder 49 provided by the casing hanger 18. Such packings are more particularly disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,797,864, granted Mar. 18, 1974, for COMBINED METAL AND ELASTO- MER SEAL.

The packing support ring 43 is adapted to be released from the nut 40 by shearing of the support pins 44 in response to downward movement of an actuator sleeve,

50 which is disposed about the nut 40 in abutting engagement with the packing support ring 43. This actuator sleeve 50 depends from an annular actuator piston sleeve 51 reciprocably supported by reaction means 52, adapted, as will be later described, to transfer the reaction force of setting the packing means P to the rams 17 of the blowout preventer.

The reaction means 52 comprises a tubular assembly of an inner cylinder sleeve 53 which is slideably disposed about the running tool body 31 and an outer cylinder member 54 threadedly connected at 55 to the inner cylinder sleeve 53. These cylinder members 53 and 54 define therebetween a piston chamber 56 of annular form in which the actuator piston 51 is disposed, the piston 51 having an outer ring seal 57 slidably engaging the cylinder wall 58 of the outer cylinder member 54 and an inner ring seal 59 slidably engaging the inner cylinder member or sleeve 53. A retainer ring 61 is secured to the lower end of the outer cylinder member 54 by fastenings 62.

Operating fluid pressure is applicable to the piston chamber 56 from the tubular body 31 which has a suitable number of radial ports 63 leading to an annular space 64 between the body 31 and the cylinder sleeve 53 which is located between upper and lower sealing rings 65 and 66 engaged between the body and the cylinder sleeve. Communicating with this annular space, via a radial port 67 in the cylinder sleeve 53, is a passage 68 which leads through the piston sleeve 53 to the piston chamber 56. Entry of foreign fluid from outside the assembly into the piston chamber 56 is prevented by a seal ring 69 between the cylinder sleeve 53 and the body 31 and another seal ring 70 in the threaded joint 55 between the cylinder members 53 and 54.

The body 31 is filled with clean operating fluid for actuation of the actuator piston 51 in response to the pressure of fluid supplied to the running pipe string. In this connection, the tool body 31 has an annular piston 71 longitudinally shiftable in the cylindrical bore 72 with which the body port 63 communicates. This piston has a ring seal 73 engaged with the wall of the bore 72.

An elongated rod 74 extends coaxially in the bore 72 and extends through a central bore 75 in the piston 71, suitable side ring seals 76 forming a seal between the piston and the rod. Upward movement of the piston 71 in the bore 72 is limited by a stop ring 77 engaged in the body 31. A coiled compression spring 78 in the bore 72 engages a seat 79 in the piston 71 and the base 80 of the bore 72, to normally bias the piston 71 upwardly. The rod 74 extends downwardly through a passage 81 in the body 31 which establishes communication between the bore 72 and a lower chamber 82 in which a check valve unit 83 is threadedly mounted and sealed by a side ring seal 84. The piston chamber within the body 71 and the piston chamber 56 are filled with a clean operating fluid through a fill port 85 in the lower end of the body 31 which is then closed by a plug 86.

Accordingly, it will now be seen that the pressure of operating fluid acting downwardly on the packing actuator piston sleeve 51 is determined by the pressure of fluid supplied to the running pipe string action on the separator piston 71 to displace fluid from the body bore 72 to the actuator piston chamber 56. The reaction, according to the present invention, is transferred to the blowout preventer rams 17, as will be later described, and as seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

An upper reaction sleeve 87 is axially shiftably mounted upon the upper tool body section 32 and has -an upwardly facing shoulder 88 and an upwardly extended neck 89. A lower skirt portion 90 of the reaction sleeve 87 has an end flange 91 connected by a number of circumferentially spaced screw pins 92 to the upper end flange 93 of a spacer sleeve 94 which has a lower end flange 95 connected by circumferentially spaced screw pins 96 with the upper end of the reaction member 54. Within the spacer sleeve 94 is an axial clearance space 97 and a downwardly facing shoulder 98 which shoulders during assembly of the tool on a stop ring 99 installed on the body 31. This spacer sleeve 94 is of a selected length to adjust the apparatus to varying spacing. between casing hangers and blowout preventer rams.

In the operation of the apparatus, the assembled packing means P and running and setting tool T are lowered on the running string through the riser pipe D, blowout preventer stack F, and into the housing H to the position of FIGS. 2a and 2b, at which the thread 41 in the lock sleeve or nut 40 rests upon the thread 30 of the casing hanger body.

Thereupon, as seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the blowout preventer rams 17 are closed on the neck 89 of the reaction sleeve 87. Fluid under pressure is supplied through the running pipe string and acts on the piston 71 in the tool body 32, forcing the piston downwardly, displacing fluid from the bore 72 through the ports and passages 63, 64, 67, and 68 into the actuator piston chamber 56. Pressure in the chamber 56 acts upwardly on the exposed cylinder area of the reaction cylinder member 54 and downwardly on the actuator piston sleeve 51. The reaction sleeve is forced upwardlyuntil the shoulder 88 abuts with the blowout preventer rams 17, and the skirt 50 of the actuator piston 51 forces the upper packing support ring 43 downwardly, shearing the supporting pins 44 and moving the packing into the packed off condition in the annulus berween the casing hanger body surface 25 and the housing surface 26.

Next, the running string is rotated, while pressure is held on the packing, so that, as seen in FIGS. a and 5b, the locking nut or sleeve 40 is threaded downwardly on the thread 30 on the casing hanger into locking engagement with the upper ring 43 of the packing means P, to hold the packing in its sealing relation with the casing hanger and the wellhead housing. Actuating pressure in the running string is then released.

As the tool body 31 moves downwardly during rotation of the locking nut 40, a sealing collar 100 on the lower end of the body 31 is moved downwardly into the sealing bore 29 of the casing hanger. This collar 100 has a number of axially spaced external seal rings 101 engageable in the bore 29, and a lower end section 102 of the body 31 has seal rings 103 engaged within the collar 100. With the packing means set to seal the space between the casing hanger and the housing and with the sealing collar 100 sealing the space between the casing hanger and the tool T, test pressure is applicable to the housing above the packing means to test the efficacy of the seal. Such test pressure, as previously indicated, is supplied through the kill line or choke line of the blowout preventer, as is well known.

During the pressure test, if fluid passes either the packing means P or the sealing collar 100, the check valve 83 at the lower end of the body bore 72 will open to admit fluid into the bore 72 from the casing M, whereby a pressure acting upwardly on fluid in the running string will signify the leak.

Following testing of the seal, the running tool is retrieved to the rig ny backing the running tool pins 37 out of the J slots 39. If the seal leaks, the running string can be rotated to back off the locking nut 40 and the nut can be retrieved with the running tool and the packing pulled by the usual pulling tool.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for effecting a seal between a wellhead housing below a blowout preventer means and a hanger disposed in said housing for supporting a tubular string extending into a well bore comprising: a running tool having a body structure connectable to a running pipe string, packing means, means releasably connecting said'packing means to said body structure, actuator means disposed between and engageable with the blowout preventer means and packing means for setting said packing means between said housing and said hanger, and locking means for holding said packing means in setcondition, said actuator means including fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder means for applying a setting force to said packing means and a reactive force to the blowout preventer means with said actuator means in engagement with the blowout preventer means and packing means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means defining a piston chamber, said body structure having a chamber containing actuator fluid and having passage means communicating between said piston chamber and said body chamber, and separator piston means in said body chamber for pressurizing said actuator fluid in response to pressure supplied through said running pipe string.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including means releasably connecting said locking member to, said body structure. i

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, said locking member having means cooperable with said hanger to hold said locking member in a locking position. 4

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative tosaid piston and cylinder means, said locking member having a thread cooperable with a thread on said hanger to hold said locking member in a locking position.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder meansbeing shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including means releasably connecting said locking member to said body structure, and means releasably connecting said structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including means releasably connecting said locking member to said body structure, and shear pins releasably connecting said packing means to said locking member.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including J slots and pin means engageable between said body structure and said locking member.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means defining a piston chamber, said body structure having a chamber containing actuator fluid and having passage means communicating between said piston chamber and said body chamber, and separator piston means in said body chamber for pressurizing said actuator fluid in response to pressure supplied through said running pipe string, said body structure having means cooperable with said hanger to form a seal therebetween.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said body structure includes means for forming a seal with said hanger.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve longitudinally shiftably carried by said body structure and having a piston chamber, a piston shiftable with respect to said body structure and having. a portion in said piston chamber, one of said cylinder sleeve and piston bein engageable with said blowout preventer means and the other supporting said packing means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve longitudinally slidable along said body structure and having a piston chamber, a piston shiftable with respect to said body structure and having a portion in said piston chamber, one of said cylinder sleeve and piston being engageable with said blowout preventer means and the other supporting said packing means, said body structure having a body chamber communicating with said piston chamber for transmitting the pressure of fluid from said running pipe string to said piston chamber.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve longitudinally slidable along said body structure and having a piston chamber, a piston shiftable with respect to said body structure and. having a portion in said piston chamber, one of said cylinder sleeve and piston being engageable with said blowout preventer means and the other supporting said packing means, said body structure having a body chamber communicating with said piston chamber, pressure transmitting fluid in said body' chamber and said piston chamber, and a piston shiftable in said body chamber by the pressure of fluid in said running pipe string to apply pressure to said pressure transmitting fluid.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve slidable on said body structure and having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with a ram of said blowout preventer means upon upward sliding of said cylinder sleeve on said body structure, and a piston reciprocable with respect to said body structure and connected with said packing means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve slidable on said body structure and having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with a ram of said blowout preventer means upon upward sliding of said cylinder sleeve on said body structure, and a piston reciprocable with respect to said body structure and connected with said packing means, said cylinder sleeve having a tubular neck above said shoulder sealingly engageable by said blowout preventer ram.

17. In subsqueous well equipment: a blowout preventer having sealing ram means actuatable into sealing engagement with a tubular member disposed therein, a wellhead housing beneath said blowout preventer, a pipe string extending through said blowout preventer means into said housing, and tool means connected with said pipe string and disposed in said housing, said tool means including pressure operated piston and cylinder means for actuating a device carried by said tool means, said piston and cylinder means being slidable longitudinally on said pipe string and having means engageable with said blowout preventer means upon the application of fluid pressure to said piston and cylinder means and upward sliding of said piston and cylinder means on said pipe string.

18. In subaqueous well equipment as defined in claim 17, said piston and cylinder means including a cylinder sleeve, said tool having a body supporting said cylinder sleeve for movement thereon, said cylinder sleeve having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with said blowout preventer ram means upon actuation of the latter to sealing position.

19. In subaqueous well equipment as defined in claim 17, said piston and cylinder means including a cylinder sleeve, said tool having a body supporting said cylinder sleeve for movement thereon, said cylinder sleeve having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with said blowout preventer ram means upon actuation of the latter to sealing position, said cylinder sleeve having a tubular neck extending upwardly from said shoulder and sealingly engageable by said ram means.

20. In subaqueous well equipment as defined in claim 17, said piston and cylinder means defining a piston chamber, and including pressure transfer piston means for applying the pressure of fluid in said running pipe string to said piston chamber.

21. A running tool adapted to be lowered on a running pipe string through a blowout preventer mounted on a wellhead housing beneath a body-of water said tool comprisingza body structure having means connectable with the running pipe string, pressure operated means slidable along said body structure and including relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder means for actuating a device in said wellhead housing, said body structure having means for transmitting the pressure of fluid in said running string to said piston and cylinder means to effect relative reciprocation thereof, one of said piston and cylinder means having a shoulder for reacting against the blowout preventer and the other being connectable with said device.

23. A running tool as defined in claim 21, means mounting said body structure rotatabl with respect to said piston and cylinder means, sai body structure having means releasably connectable with said device. 

1. Apparatus for effecting a seal between a wellhead housing below a blowout preventer means and a hanger disposed in said housing for supporting a tubular string extending into a well bore comprising: a running tool having a body structure connectable to a running pipe string, packing means, means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure, actuator means disposed between and engageable with the blowout preventer means and packing means for setting said packing means between said housing and said hanger, and locking means for holding said packing means in set condition, said actuator means including fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder means for applying a setting force to said packing means and a reactive force to the blowout preventer means with said actuator means in engagement with the blowout preventer means and packing means.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means defining a piston chamber, said body structure having a chamber containing acTuator fluid and having passage means communicating between said piston chamber and said body chamber, and separator piston means in said body chamber for pressurizing said actuator fluid in response to pressure supplied through said running pipe string.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including means releasably connecting said locking member to said body structure.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, said locking member having means cooperable with said hanger to hold said locking member in a locking position.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, said locking member having a thread cooperable with a thread on said hanger to hold said locking member in a locking position.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including means releasably connecting said locking member to said body structure, and means releasably connecting said packing means to said locking member.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including means releasably connecting said locking member to said body structure, and shear pins releasably connecting said packing means to said locking member.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means being shiftably disposed on said body structure, said locking means including a locking member shiftable by said body structure upon movement of said body structure relative to said piston and cylinder means, and said means releasably connecting said packing means to said body structure including J slots and pin means engageable between said body structure and said locking member.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, said piston and cylinder means defining a piston chamber, said body structure having a chamber containing actuator fluid and having passage means communicating between said piston chamber and said body chamber, and separator piston means in said body chamber for pressurizing said actuator fluid in response to pressure supplied through said running pipe string, said body structure having means cooperable with said hanger to form a seal therebetween.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said body structure includes means for forming a seal with said hanger.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve longitudinally shiftably carried by said body structure and having a piston chamber, a piston shiftable with respect to said body structure and having a portion in said piston chamber, one of said cylinder sleeve and piston being engageable with said blowout preventer means and the other supporting said packing means.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve longitudinally slidable along said body structure and having a piston chamber, a piston shiftable with respect to said body structure and having a portion in said piston chamber, one of said cylinder sleeve and piston being engageable with said blowout preventer means and the other supporting said packing means, said body structure having a body chamber communicating with said piston chamber for transmitting the pressure of fluid from said running pipe string to said piston chamber.
 14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve longitudinally slidable along said body structure and having a piston chamber, a piston shiftable with respect to said body structure and having a portion in said piston chamber, one of said cylinder sleeve and piston being engageable with said blowout preventer means and the other supporting said packing means, said body structure having a body chamber communicating with said piston chamber, pressure transmitting fluid in said body chamber and said piston chamber, and a piston shiftable in said body chamber by the pressure of fluid in said running pipe string to apply pressure to said pressure transmitting fluid.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve slidable on said body structure and having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with a ram of said blowout preventer means upon upward sliding of said cylinder sleeve on said body structure, and a piston reciprocable with respect to said body structure and connected with said packing means.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder means includes a cylinder sleeve slidable on said body structure and having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with a ram of said blowout preventer means upon upward sliding of said cylinder sleeve on said body structure, and a piston reciprocable with respect to said body structure and connected with said packing means, said cylinder sleeve having a tubular neck above said shoulder sealingly engageable by said blowout preventer ram.
 17. In subsqueous well equipment: a blowout preventer having sealing ram means actuatable into sealing engagement with a tubular member disposed therein, a wellhead housing beneath said blowout preventer, a pipe string extending through said blowout preventer means into said housing, and tool means connected with said pipe string and disposed in said housing, said tool means including pressure operated piston and cylinder means for actuating a device carried by said tool means, said piston and cylinder means being slidable longitudinally on said pipe string and having means engageable with said blowout preventer means upon the application of fluid pressure to said piston and cylinder means and upward sliding of said piston and cylinder means on said pipe string.
 18. In subaqueous well equipment as defined in claim 17, said piston and cylinder means including a cylinder sleeve, said tool having a body supporting said cylinder sleeve for movement thereon, said cylinder sleeve having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with said blowout preventer ram means upon actuation of the latter to sealing position.
 19. In subaqueous well equipment as defined in claim 17, said piston and cylinder means including a cylinder sleeve, said tool having a body supporting said cylinder sleeve for movement thereon, said cylinder sleeve having an upwardly facing shoulder engageable with said blowout preventer ram means upon actuation of the latter to sealing position, said cylinder sleeve having a tubular neck extending upwardly from said shoulder and sealingly engageable by said ram means.
 20. In subaqueous well equipment as defined in claim 17, said piston and cylinder means defining a piston chamber, and including pressure transfer piston means for applying the pressure of fluid in said running pipe string to said piston chamber.
 21. A running tool adapted to be lowered on a running pipe string through a blowout preventer mounted on a wellhead housing beneath a body of water said tool comprising: a body structure having means connectable with the running pipe string, pressure operated means slidable along said body structure and including relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder means for actuating a device in said wellhead housing, said body structure having means for transmitting the pressure of fluid in said running string to said piston and cylinder means to effect relative reciprocation thereof, one of said piston and cylinder means having a shoulder for reacting against the blowout preventer and the other being connectable with said device.
 22. A running tool as defined in claim 21, means mounting said body structure rotatable with respect to said piston and cylinder means.
 23. A running tool as defined in claim 21, means mounting said body structure rotatably with respect to said piston and cylinder means, said body structure having means releasably connectable with said device. 